State Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Minister Badal, in a video conferencing with Union Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, while talking about the farmers of Jharkhand, said that fertilizers can be available to all the farmers in the state at reasonable prices and on time. For this, construction of rack points at Sahebganj, Lohardaga and Jamshedpur or Chaibasa is essential. Badal was talking to the Union Minister through video conferencing in the conference hall of Nepal House on Tuesday.
Badal said that he had raised the issue of rack point construction last year as well, but no action has been taken on this subject so far. He said that the state of Jharkhand is a semi hill area, because of which the freight rate of fertilizer increases a lot and its direct burden falls on the farmers here. He appealed to the Union Minister to give relief to semi-hill areas like Jharkhand by amending the freight rate. The freight rate at present is very low. He said that this year also many districts of the state are in the grip of drought. So far, only 38 per cent of the land has been covered, while about 53 per cent of the average rainfall is less.
With regard to Nano Urea and organic farming, he told the Union Minister that Jharkhand has already taken steps towards organic farming. Along with this, a new plant of Nano Urea has been set up in Jharkhand. Badal said that if the central government makes available sulphur-coated urea, an awareness campaign will be launched among the farmers regarding it.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government will act seriously on this demand in the interest of farmers and to lead them towards prosperity. He said that there is a need to increase nano urea and organic farming in all the states so that our soil can be protected. About 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizer is available within the country. Fertilizer will be made available to all the states as per the demand. All the states should make farmers aware of agriculture and ensure that there is no diversion of urea. If the states reduce the dependence on urea, then 50 per cent of the saved amount will run many new schemes in the interest of the farmers. Along with this, we will be able to keep the soil safe.
Apart from Departmental Secretary Abu Baqr Siddiqui, several officials associated with Fertilizer were present in the video conferencing.
BOX:
‘Insurance companies will not be able to cheat farmers’
PNS
Ranchi
Agriculture Minister Badal has said that the way the insurance companies of agriculture had cheated while giving compensation last time, but this time it will not happen. He said that this time insurance companies will work with new conditions. The Jharkhand government is very sensitive about the matters related to the interest of the farmers of the state and this time many points have been added in the condition with the insurance companies in the interest of the farmers. Along with this, he said that according to the talks with the Central Government, insurance companies will not be able to do any kind of fraud.
Regarding the drought situation in the state, Badal said that only 4 districts of the state have received normal rainfall while 19 districts have received less than normal rainfall. There is a complete drought in Chatra district. He said that the total coverage in the state is 47 per cent, which is 53 per cent less than the average. This is a matter of concern. Earlier in the state, where drought used to occur in an interval of three and four years, now, due to environmental imbalance, it is frequent. It is the second year which has raised the concerns of the farmers. This time there is 38 per cent less rainfall than the average.
Badal said that this time, the rain situation is not good. While the major reservoir indicators are not showing good signs, the time for sowing is now over. There is a decline in the water level. By September 15, a detailed report will be prepared regarding the sowing and yield of the state's agriculture. On the other hand, the government is brainstorming about the NPA loans of the farmers, soon one way or the other will be found.